Office Puts Microchips Under Employees' Skin

A hi-tech office block in Sweden is trialling a scheme in which its tenants have microchips inserted into their hands in order to gain entry to the building.

As reported by the BBC, the radio-frequency identification (RFID) chips are provided by the Swedish Biohacking Group, and enable tenants in the Epicenter office block to open doors and even operate the photocopiers. Future services are expected to include the ability to pay at the office cafe without needing to get out a card.

The chips are about the size of a grain of rice and are inserted by a tattooist between the thumb and index finger, with pain apparently no greater than that of an injection. Though it's claimed that this will eventually make things easier, the BBC reports it's not always the case, and their reporter actually had to twist his arm into a rather unnatural position to get the photocopier to work.

At the moment it's a pilot scheme with only a few receiving the chip, though it'll apparently be opened up to the building's 700 other employees on an opt-in basis.

As for why this is being done, the Swedish Biohacking Group suggests it's in order to prepare us for the day our governments and corporations "come to us and say everyone should get chipped - the tax authority chip, the Google or Facebook chip."

Exit Theatre Mode

This isn't the first time we've seen something along these lines, with a US company previously having floated the idea of smart digital tattoos, though this is certainly far more invasive. What's more unsettling is the news the BBC reporter flew home with the chip still under his skin retaining all his contact details.

Is this something you could see the benefits of, or does the entire thing sound a bit too Big Brother for you? Sound off in the comments.

Luke Karmali is IGN's UK News Editor. You too can revel in mediocrity by following him on Twitter.